Saturday 21^st of June was not a bad day for Ikkyo Aberystwyth, bringing back home 9 medals from the KUGB Welsh Region Championships.

Read the full report……

A group of competitors travelled to Merthyr Tydfil with their Chief Instructor and Welsh Squad Kata Coach, Paul James, 5^th Dan, and Instructor, Toni James, 1^st Dan. The competition kicked off at 10am with the Children’s categories starting first. Fergus Tiddeman, Sioned Exley, Cerys Scott, Lowry Scott, Sophie Jones, Nathan Jones and Charlotte Smith competed in Kata, all performing very well. In Kihon Ippon Kumite, Sioned Exley and Cerys Scott did their best, with Cerys (3^rd Kyu, brown belt) doing exceptionally well and winning the 3^rd place to the podium and the bronze medal.

In the Senior categories, the competition was fierce. The competitors had their mind in winning, and winning only they did. In the Individual Men’s events, Christopher Davies, Rostislav Revako, Bernard Tiddeman, Steven Bailey, Peter Ainsley and Nathan Theopanidies, competed against strong opponents in Kata and going one round after the other, Steven Bailey won a hard-fought place in the finals where he performed the Kata Unsu, winning the 3^rd place. Rostislav Revako, Bernard Tiddeman and Steven Bailey, also competed in Individual Kumite. Some spectacular fights for strong nerves were fought by our competitors, narrowly missing a place in the semi-finals.

At the Senior Men’s Team Kumite, on the other hand, our team, comprising of the same three karate-kas, turned the odds in their favour, beating the opponent team and participating in the finals and taking the 2^nd place on the podium, leaving with silver medals and an air of achievement. The victorious team for the Senior Team Kata event of the night brought back to Aberystwyth some more bling, with Steven Bailey, Katharina Hone and Christopher Davies taking home the bronze, winning the 4^th place in the finals in this very challenging event.

In the Senior Ladies’ Individual events, Katharina Hone and Stefani Dritsa competed in both Kata and Kumite. At her first round, Katharina Hone performed against the final champion. The very strong Kata she did certainly convinced some referees, but unfortunately not all. Stefani Dritsa, despite being a 4^th Kyu (purple belt/white stripe), took out all the opponents in her way to the finals, earning the 4^th place and the bronze medal. Katharina and Stefani, also, entered the Kumite event, performing well under some of the finalists.

Congratulations to all competitors for carrying proudly the name of their dojo, Ikkyo Aberystwyth and for bringing some “shinies” back to Aberystwyth.

Article kindly written by Stefani Dritsa

Best Adult – Steven Bailey
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore and Thomas Cowhig.
Best Young Junior Grade – Alex Devonport.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 16 stars and Thomas Cowhig.
Runner-up:  Cerys Scott with 8.5 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Alex Devonport, Daniel Cruickshank and Luca Serra-Thapa with 16 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Steven Bailey with 42 stars.
Runner-up: Meleri Pryse with 35 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 33 stars.

Congratulations to Anna Newbold, Christian Dickenson, Ivan Mitov, Jonathan Eve, Stefani Dritsa and Steven Bailey from Aberystwyth University’s club competed, as well as Christopher Davies and Rostislav Revako from the main dojo based at Penweddig School.

All competitors performed well on the day, with our team kata, consisting of Anna Newbold, Christian Dickenson and Stefani Dritsa, taking 5th place overall, and narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Rostislav Revako took bronze in the Men’s Black Belt fighting (kumite) event. Two of our members went head-to-head in the Men’s 7^th-1^st Kyu Kata event, with Christian Dickenson walking away with a bronze medal, and Christopher Davies taking home the silver. Finally Steven Bailey performed exceptionally well in the Men’s Black Belt Kata event, winning the silver.

Best Adult – Meleri Pryse
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luca Serra-Thapa.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 17 stars.
Runner-up: Thomas Cowhig with 16 stars, and Cerys Scott with 11 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luca Serra-Thapa with 18 stars.
Runner-up: Alex Devonport and Daniel Cruickshank with 15.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Meleri Pryse with 40 stars.
Runner-up: Steven Bailey with 33 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 24 stars.

Best Adult – Meleri Pryse
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luke Taylor.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 18.5 stars.
Runner-up: Lowri Scott with 16 stars, and Cerys Scott with 13.5 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luke Taylor with 21 stars.
Runner-up: Ioan Reading with 17.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Meleri Pryse with 37 stars.
Runner-up: Steven Bailey with 30.5 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 25 stars.

Best Adult – Stefani Dritsa
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – _Dylan Smith.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 16 stars.
Runner-up: James Roberts with 11.5 stars, and Cerys Scott with 9 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner:  Alex Devonport with 11.5 stars.
Runner-up:  Dylan Smith and Harrison Hinkin.

Best Adult – Winner: Stefani Dritsa with 30 stars.
Runner-up: Graham Hunt with 28 stars, and Steven Bailey with 24 stars.

Best Adult – Stefani Dritsa
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Sioned Exley.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 17 stars.
Runner-up: Cerys Scott and Lowri Scott with 12 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Sioned Exley with 17 stars.
Runner-up: Ibrahim and Ioan Reading with 10.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Stefani Dritsa with 68 stars.
Runner-up: Christian Dickenson with 57 stars, and Mark Reading with 57 stars.

Best Adult – Stefani Dritsa
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luke Taylor.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 16 stars.
Runner-up: Cerys Scott and Lowri Scott with 15 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luke Taylor and Sioned Exley with 16 stars.
Runner-up:  Ibrahim with 13.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Stefani Dritsa with 30 stars.
Runner-up: Christian Dickenson with 24 stars, and Graham Hunt with 23 stars.